Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Cañón de San Cristóbal
CANYON
The canyon is so unexpected - both in location and appearance - that it may take your
breath away. The deep green chasm just drops out of nowhere, its rocky crags hiding the
veil of falling water. The canyon is only 5 miles north of Aibonito. Cutting more than 500ft
down through the central mountains, you'll probably only see it right as you approach its
edge; the rift is so deep and narrow that the fields and hills of the surrounding high-moun-
tain plateau disguise it.
The highest waterfall on the island is here, where the Río Usabón plummets at least 500ft
down a sheer cliff into a gorge that is deeper, in many places, than it is wide. For fit outdoor
enthusiasts, the descent into the canyon is a first-class thrill, whether you take steep trails
or make the technical descent - recommended only for those with mountaineering exper-
ience. Not so long ago, San Cristóbal was a garbage dump, but the Conservation Trust of
Puerto Rico saved the canyon by buying up most of it for preservation.
You can catch a glimpse of the canyon from a distance by looking east from the intersec-
tion of Hwy 725 and Hwy 162. Getting into the canyon is a bit trickier. One way is to take
side roads off Hwy 725 or Hwy 7725 and then cross private land to approach the rim of the
canyon. It's essential to get permission to cross private property. Cañón de San Cristóbal
has sheer cliffs that are prone to erosion and landslides, and the trails into the canyon are a
slippery death wish when they get wet (and it rains a lot around here).
The best way to visit the canyon is to plan ahead, make reservations and join an or-
ganized trek with
San Cristóbal Hiking Tour ( 857-2094;
www.barranquitaspr.net/
ends and holidays and vary from a three- to four-hour basic tour ($90) to a five- to six-hour
adrenalin-junkie fest with rock climbing and rappelling ($135 to $160 depending on num-
ber of people). You can also visit with
Acampa NatureAdventureTours ( 706-0695;
www.acampapr.com
)
, based out of San Juan. Wear secure shoes and layer appropriate
clothing that you can take off at the canyon floor, where temperatures can be more than
10°F warmer than up on the brink. Of course, you will need water and snacks for the return
trip up the canyon wall.
Mirador La Piedra Degetau
NATURAL AREA
This nest of boulders lies on a hilltop alongside the Ruta Panorámica (Hwy 7718 here) at
Km 0.7, just south of Aibonito. Once the 'thinking place' of Ponce-born writer Federico
Degetau y González, who became the island's first resident commissioner in Washington
